BARNTON will need to match their opponents’ physical strength to keep alive their hopes of winning the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup, says co-boss Kevin Towey.

The Villagers host a quarter finals tie tomorrow, Saturday, when West Cheshire League outfit – and winners in 2011 – Ashville visit Town Field, kick off 1.30pm.

“Teams from that competition have tended to intimidate Cheshire League sides,” said Towey.

“They’ve been much better at imposing themselves physically, and I expect Ashville to be no different.

“We’ll need to stand up to that to stand a chance.”

The men from Town Field were the last Cheshire League side to win the competition back in 2004, when Towey was part of Nick Armitage’s all-conquering team.

So was goalkeeper Richie Mottram, between the posts when Barnton inflicted a first defeat of the season on Poynton last weekend.

Towey said: “We’ve come this far because we’re good enough to have done.

“The draw has been kind, giving us a home tie, so our aim is to reach the semi finals.

“If we play to what I feel is our potential, which has only happened once or twice this season, then we can hold our own.”

His new-look team, put together with co-manager Ian Ross, has lost just once in the Cheshire League’s second tier to leave them placed third in the table at the turn of the year.

However Towey believes they are too easy to score against, a fact highlighted by last Saturday’s 5-4 success against Poynton.

Defensive duo Michael Burns and Chris Lawton, from Prescot Cables and Runcorn Linnets respectively, both signed before Christmas to bolster Barnton’s leaky backline.

Towey added: “They each have played at a higher level, but for one reason or another can’t commit to staying there.

“I’ve asked them if they can do a job for us, which they’re more than capable of doing.

“It’s obvious where our problem has been; more than three quarters of the goals we’ve conceded have been from set pieces or crosses delivered into the box.

“It’s time to stop it happening so often.”

Cheshire FA Amateur Cup
Quarter finals
Saturday, January 5 (Kick off 1.30pm)
Barnton v Ashville
Upton AA v Heswall
Vauxhall Motors res v Newton
West Kirby v Cammell Laird res